Indigenous Sport & Wellness Ontario (ISWO) offers several grants for First Nation, Métis, and Inuit communities, organizations, and groups across Ontario to fund sport, recreation, wellness, and leadership programs. Grants range from $5,000 to $15,000 and cover equipment, community programming, improving women and girls' participation, and youth leadership development in urban, rural, and remote areas. What Types of Grants Does ISWO Offer? ISWO provides a range of targeted funding programs designed to break down barriers to sport and recreation in Indigenous communities across Ontario. Each grant serves a specific need, from equipment access to youth leadership, and all prioritize culturally grounded approaches to wellness. Here's a closer look at each one. How Can Communities Get Funding for Sport Equipment? Equipment costs are one of the most common barriers to sport participation, especially in remote communities. The Power 2 Play Equipment Grant addresses this directly by providing up to $5,000 in funding for equipment, or the option to request 10 to 15 sets of Bauer hockey equipment per applicant organization. Proposals that demonstrate how culturally grounded sport and physical activity opportunities can enhance overall wellness are strongly encouraged. Timeline: Accepting applications in the summer. What Funding Is Available for Remote and Rural Indigenous Communities? The Northern & Remote Communities Recreation Fund is designed specifically for remote and rural communities. It offers up to $10,000 for new, existing, or expanded projects that address community social development needs through sport, recreation, and physical activity. Like all ISWO programs, it prioritizes culturally grounded approaches that support overall wellness. Timeline: Accepting applications in the fall. Are There Grants Specifically for Indigenous Women and Girls in Sport? Yes. The Women & Girls Spo

Sport can start as something you do, but it often becomes something that shapes who you are. For Indigenous youth, that transformation can be especially powerful. Beyond the competition, sport offers a space to grow, belong, and lead. From the Field to Everyday Life On the field of play, athletes build skills that extend far beyond the game. Youth learn how to communicate under pressure, how to work with different personalities, and how to stay focused when things get hard. Youth also learn accountability through showing up for your team, owning your mistakes, and putting in the work to get better. Leadership also shows up in the small moments: encouraging a teammate, helping someone learn a new skill, or setting the tone with a positive attitude. Over time, those habits build confidence and responsibility. That's why we say sport is more than competition. It can be a pathway from athlete to leader, with lessons youth carry into school, work, and community for the rest of their life. Building Confidence, One Day at a Time Confidence doesn't show up overnight. It's built every time a young person tries something new, keeps going, and realizes they can do hard things. That's exactly what Indigenous Sport & Wellness Ontario (ISWO) designs its sports camps to do. At an ISWO camp , youth set goals, practice, and see their progress in real time. Maybe it's learning a new skill, completing a challenging drill, or stepping into a scrimmage with courage. Those small wins add up and build a sense of believing in oneself that lasts. When things don't go according to plan, sport teaches resilience. Youth learn to bounce back, keep practicing, and try again. That lesson is just as valuable as any trophy. Leadership Starts Here Being part of a team builds confidence, too. Youth learn to communicate, support each other, and step

Eight weeks after finishing the Bridge to Employment job readiness program, participants are more confident, more connected, and more motivated to keep going.

When sport programming is rooted in Indigenous traditions, languages, and values, it becomes a place where young people feel seen, understood, and connected to something larger than themselves.